Kansas City Paternity Attorneys

Law In Kansas City721 NE 76th
Kansas City , MO 64118

816-479-2700

If you have had a child with someone to whom you were not married at the time the child was born, you need to file a Paternity action. All cases are different. It is important to speak with an attorney to know your rights. Isn't your child the most important thing to you? If so, you need to make sure that you have as much time with your child as possible.

Moms:

Do you need child support?

Many people make the mistake of thinking that if they do not ask for child support, the father will just disappear. This is not normally the case. What I tell my client is that your child deserves to have child support. No matter how much money you make, the costs of raising a child is steep. Even if you do not want money from your child's father, you can put it away for college tuition. The second biggest mistake I see is that women will take lower child support just to try to get along with the other party. Normally, taking less does NOT help the parties get along.

If you need child support, we can help! Call our office for an appointment.

Missouri child support is calculated off a chart called Form 14. The most common factors that can change the outcome are (1) childcare & healthcare costs and (2 )overnight visitation by the non-custodial parent. Contact your attorney to see what child support would be for your child.

Do you need to have a visitation schedule?

It is natural to be a little afraid. My best advice is to file a Paternity action and put a parenting plan in place so you will know what visitation your child's father will have. Once you have a schedule, you won't have to be afraid of whether he will bring the child back to you. Father's have as much right to time with your child as you do. Just because you do not have an Order signed by a Judge does not mean that your child's father cannot see the minor child. It is best for your child to have a specific visitation schedule in place so they know when they will be with you and when they will be with their father. Call our office and make sure that all the things that are important to you will be included in your Parenting Plan.

Call for your appointment today. We can help you.

Dads:

You have rights!!! Don't allow your child's mother to tell you when you will be able to see your child. A Paternity action will establish what visitation you will have with your child or if you should be the parent with primary custody. There are many children out there who have split custody with their parents. However, if the parties do not agree to split custody, Judges will not normally order it. The biggest mistakes I see fathers make is to allow the mother to dictate their time with the child. The second biggest mistake is similar-- they are willing to take whatever is offered right now and think they can get it adjusted later on. Talk to your attorney on the importance of getting it right from the start and the difficulty of modification of visitaiton schedules.

If you are contacted by the State of Missouri for establishment of Paternity do not think that the process is designed to be fair. It is not. The Form 14 does give some credits for overnight visitation, payment of health care for the minor child, other child support orders you may have, children living in your home, your child care costs, etc. Even if your child's mother does not want child support, you may find yourself being ordered to pay. Contact an attorney today to find out your rights.